Boeing stresses internal comms in strike outreach

LOS ANGELES: Despite the threat of a long strike by machinists, Boeing is handling communications during the crisis in-house, and concentrating efforts on internal messages, according to media relations spokesman Chaz Bicker.

LOS ANGELES: Despite the threat of a long strike by machinists, Boeing is handling communications during the crisis in-house, and concentrating efforts on internal messages, according to media relations spokesman Chaz Bicker.

"Right now we are focused very much on just saying we are open to discussions, and any reasonable proposal around our offer," he said.

The strike by the International Association of Machinists' began in early September. No contract talks have been scheduled, and analysts predict the strike could last a number of weeks or even months.

Bicker added that despite growing interest in the situation from business writers across the country, Boeing was concentrating efforts on explaining its position to workers.

"That's where most of our focus has to be for this issue," he said.

Specifically, the company is working to explain its position on pensions, a core issue of the strike. Bicker said the company is trying to communicate its "holistic" approach to retirement.

"It's important for us to make sure that everybody understands that a secure retirement depends on a number of different elements, not just a pension," he said, citing other factors such as social security and 401k plans. He added that the company is also focusing messages around healthcare, another issue being debated in the strike.